A UK court is now set to rule on the confiscation of over 100 million pounds ($129 million) linked to Nigerian politician and former Governor of Delta state, James Ibori.
Ibori who served as Governor of Delta State between 1999 to 2007 was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted of fraud and money laundering in 2013. He ended his jail term in 2016 and returned to Nigeria the following year.
Lead prosecution counsel Jonathan Kinnear told the court that the total amount that should be confiscated from Ibori was 101.5 million pounds and that if he does not pay up, he should be sentenced to between five and 10 years in prison.
A judgment on the case will put an end to over 10 years of legal disputes regarding the attempt to confiscate the funds.
Ibori who did not attend Thursday's hearing, told the publication by text message that he plans to appeal against the confiscation order.